How jails extort the poor | Salil Dudani

How jails extort the poor | Salil Dudani

Author: TED February 16, 2017 Duration: 12:33
Why do we jail people for being poor? Today, half a million Americans are in jail only because they can't afford to post bail, and still more are locked up because they can't pay their debt to the court, sometimes for things as minor as unpaid parking tickets. Salil Dudani shares stories from individuals who have experienced debtors' prison in Ferguson, Missouri, challenging us to think differently about how we punish the poor and marginalized.

If you ever feel like the daily news cycle only gives you part of the story, this collection offers a deeper, more thoughtful dive. TED Talks News and Politics brings you directly to the stages where experts, from seasoned journalists and policymakers to groundbreaking researchers, share their unfiltered perspectives. This podcast moves past the soundbites to explore the ideas and analysis shaping our world. Each episode features a full talk, allowing you to hear complex arguments develop and understand the context behind today’s most pressing issues. These are conversations that challenge assumptions and connect dots you might have missed, all drawn from TED’s global network of conferences and independent TEDx events. By focusing on substantial narratives and firsthand expertise, this series provides the intellectual groundwork to form your own informed opinions. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to engage with current events on a more meaningful level, hearing directly from the people who are deeply embedded in the stories that define our times. TED’s nonprofit mission to spread powerful ideas finds a compelling home here, in a format made for reflection and understanding.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 47

TED Talks News and Politics
Podcast Episodes
Why civilians suffer more once a war is over | Margaret Bourdeaux [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In a war, it turns out that violence isn't the biggest killer of civilians. What is? Illness, hunger, poverty -- because war destroys the institutions that keep society running, like utilities, banks, food systems and ho…
The racial politics of time | Brittney Cooper [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Cultural theorist Brittney Cooper examines racism through the lens of time, showing us how historically it has been stolen from people of color, resulting in lost moments of joy and connection, lost years of healthy qual…
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Duration: 8:27
Something is very wrong with the news industry. Trust in the media has hit an all-time low; we're inundated with sensationalist stories, and consistent, high-quality reporting is scarce, says journalist Lara Setrakian. S…
How to have better political conversations | Robb Willer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:51
Robb Willer studies the forces that unite and divide us. As a social psychologist, he researches how moral values -- typically a source of division -- can also be used to bring people together. Willer shares compelling i…
It's time to reclaim religion | Sharon Brous [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:17
At a moment when the world seems to be spinning out of control, religion might feel irrelevant -- or like part of the problem. But Rabbi Sharon Brous believes we can reinvent religion to meet the needs of modern life. In…